Cargo traffic in the region has been so sluggish, in fact, that February has been the only month of gains so far this year. Volumes rose 7.8 percent, year-over-year, in February, although this increase is somewhat misleading, AAPA officials asserted at the time. The Chinese New Year fell during the first week of February in 2011, skewing year-over-year statistics.

The region's August performance, however, reflected the "persistent weakness in air cargo markets," AAPA Director General Andrew Herdman said. He added that Asian carriers also saw a 4.4-percent, year-over-year, decline in airfreight demand during the first eight months of the year, "with no sign of any upturn."

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